Eiffel Tower Stair Climb Paris: Guided Ascent to 2nd Floor

Climb the Iron Lady the way Gustave Eiffel built it

You climb the Eiffel Tower's stairs to the 2nd floor with a guide who shares the tower's construction history and engineering secrets, then explore freely afterward. Optional summit access by elevator is available if you want to go higher. Plan for 2 hours of guided climbing plus waiting time in security and ticket lines: in peak season that's 45 minutes minimum at the desk alone, which is why booking ahead matters.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Bois de Boulogne20m
2. Eiffel Tower1h · entry included
3. 1st Arrondissement1h · entry included

Climb Eiffel Tower and optional cruise

• Meet guide near Eiffel Tower
• Listen to tower history and stories
• Climb stairs to second floor
• Enjoy panoramic Paris views
• Explore tower freely after tour
• Optionally upgrade to summit access
• Optionally take Seine River cruise

The experience

Your guide is already waiting near the tower entrance when you arrive, and the ticketing line is already forming behind the barriers. This is the reality of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The crowds are real, the wait times are real, and your guide knows how to use them. While you're standing in line for security and tickets (expect 30 to 45 minutes in peak season, 15 to 30 in winter), they're already telling you about the engineering that made this iron lattice possible, the scandal it caused when it first went up, and why Parisians hated it before they loved it. By the time you reach the turnstiles, you've already learned more than most visitors ever will.

Then you start climbing. Not the elevator route that most people take, the stairs. Your legs do the work, but your eyes get the reward. As you ascend toward the second floor, the city unfolds in a way the lift never shows you. You pass under the iron beams, see the rivets and the joints, understand the structure from inside it rather than just looking at it from below. Your guide points out the Arc de Triomphe, the Champs Élysées, Notre Dame Cathedral, all the landmarks that define Paris, but from angles and distances that change as you climb. The second-floor observation deck is where the guided portion ends, usually around the two-hour mark, though the actual time depends on how long the lines moved. After that, you're free to stay inside the tower and explore at your own pace, take more photos, sit on a bench and just look, or (if you've paid for the summit upgrade), ride the elevator the rest of the way up for the 360-degree view from the very top.

The climb itself isn't casual. You need real fitness for this. It's not a stroll, and the tower doesn't have handrails on every section. But that's exactly why you see what others don't. The people taking the elevator pass through in minutes and miss the whole story. You're inside it, moving through it, understanding how it was built and why it still stands. Groups stay under twenty people, so it never feels like a mob, and your guide is with you the entire way up, not just pointing things out but answering questions and filling the climb with context that makes the effort feel like something more than just exercise.

What’s included

• Expert English or Spanish-speaking guide throughout the climb.
• Guided stair access to the 1st and 2nd floors of the Eiffel Tower.
• Free time to explore the tower after the guided portion ends.
• Small group tour with 20 guests or fewer.
• Optional summit access by elevator (available for an additional fee, subject to weather and capacity).
• Optional Seine River cruise with live commentary (available as an add-on). Public transportation is available nearby if you need it to reach the meeting point.

Options for this experience

5 options

English-language Eiffel Tower 2nd Floor tour09:00, 09:30 and 10:00Guided climb reaching the 1st and 2nd floors, lasting 1 hour 30 minutes. Summit access is not included.

Eiffel Tower 2nd Floor tour in Spanish14:00Guided climb reaching the 1st and 2nd floors, lasting 1 hour 30 minutes. Summit access is not included.

2nd Floor and Cruise tour in English09:00, 09:30 and 10:00A guided climb to the 2nd floor combined with a scenic Seine River cruise, lasting 2 hours 30 minutes. Summit access is not included.

See 2 more options

Eiffel Tower Summit tour in English09:00 and 09:30A guided climb with elevator access to the Summit for breathtaking panoramic views, lasting 1 hour 30 minutes. Access to the 1st and 2nd floors is included after visiting the summit.

Summit and Cruise tour in English09:00 and 09:30A guided climb with Summit access and a scenic Seine River cruise, lasting 2 hours 30 minutes. Access to the 1st and 2nd floors is included after visiting the summit by elevator.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 09:30, 10:00 and 14:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (19 and older) · Child (4 to 18 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 20

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Physically demandingPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by City Wonders Ltd

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want to understand the Eiffel Tower's engineering and history rather than just see it from a distance, and who have the fitness for sustained stair climbing. Expect significant wait times in security and ticketing lines. That's built into the experience, and your guide uses it to teach, but it does mean the full outing takes longer than just the 2-hour climb itself.

Traveler reviews

4.54★★★★★★★★★★

3,238 verified traveler reviews

5 ★2,684

4 ★154

3 ★93

2 ★64

1 ★243

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

In English, at 09:00, 09:30 and 10:00. In Spanish, at 14:00.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 18 years); Infant (under 4): free.

How long does the whole experience take?

The guided climb typically lasts around 2 hours, but add 30–45 minutes (peak season) or 15–30 minutes (low season) for security and ticketing. After the guide finishes at the 2nd floor, you can stay and explore at your own pace for as long as you want.

Do I have to take the stairs all the way?

You climb stairs to the 2nd floor with the guide. From there, you can descend by stairs or elevator. If you upgrade to summit access, you'll take the elevator from the 2nd floor to the top.

What if the summit is closed on the day I visit?

Summit access depends on weather and capacity. If it's unavailable, the group cannot access it even if it reopens later that day. You'll receive an automatic refund of the summit price within 5–10 days.

Is this tour suitable for people with fitness concerns?

No. The tour requires a high level of physical fitness and is not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health. You'll be climbing stairs for an extended period.

How many people are in the group?

Small groups of 20 guests or fewer.

Can I stay longer and explore after the guide finishes?

Yes. After the guided portion ends at the 2nd floor, you're free to remain inside the tower and explore at your own pace before returning to ground level.

Is there a Seine River cruise option?

Yes, a scenic Seine River cruise with live commentary is available as an add-on. After your tower visit, you'll walk to the river and board a sightseeing boat for a guided journey past Paris landmarks.